Device for printing meter readings



Feb. 17, 1942. c. M. CARLTON DEVICE FOR PRINTING METER READINGS Filed May 25, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l lNvENToR. ar' UTDTL [.TLEEJEEP M. E.

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 17, 1942. c. M. CARLTON DEVICE FOR PRINTING METER READINGS .Filed May 25, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. aI-"LTD T1 BHEETED M1.

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. E7, 1942. c. M. CARLTON DEVICE FOR PRINTING METER READINGS Filed May 23, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 s bb N N INVENTOR.

CHEETEP M. BETH-Cnn Patented Feb. 17, i942 UNi'iED STATES OFFICE nevica Fon PRINTING METER assumes Chester M. Carlton, Mener, Mich.

Application May 23, 1940, Serial No. 336,843

(ci. iol-eci 7 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in recorders and more particularly to devices for printing records corresponding to periodical meter readings on successive cards of a pack.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described for attachment to a meter and provided with means for printing records corresponding to periodical readings on cards of a pack and successively removing the cards from the pack upon completion of the printing operations.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a magazine for handling a gradually diminishing pack of cards.

Yet another object is the provision of a device for printing records corresponding to periodical meter readings at the expiration of long time intervals, including an inked sheet and a housing maintaining the sheet in a fresh condition during periods of non-use.

A' further object is to provide means tending tov hold the inked sheet tautl during use.

A" still further object is to provide a device of thecharacter described including inking means, printing means and record card issuing means operable by a single control lever.

Other objects and advantages ofthe invention will become apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawings,

Figure l is a View partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, showing the device as applied to a meter, the parts of the device being disposed in retracted or inoperative position, as shown in full lines, and the partially advanced or operative position of certain parts being shown by broken lines.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device as applied to a meter with the parts of thedevice disposed in an advanced position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail View of a releasable connection preferably forming apart of the invention.

Figure 4 is a plan View of a completed record card.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View partly in elevation and-partly in section, showing the forward end'of the card supply magazine and associated parts.

In the drawings, which for the purpose of illustration show only a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein similar reference characters denote corresponding parts thruout the several views, the letter A designates the meter and B the device for attachment thereto for recording periodic readings on successive cards C.V

Projecting from the front face l5 ofthe meter A'is a bar iii containing an identication number, and a plurality of rotary pointers I1 indicating units of consumption, and constituting type members for printing successive records corresponding to periodical readings of the meter.' These type members may be formed by placing stamp rubber on the hands and serial number of a meter.

Referring now to the device B, it includes a' shell 2d, projecting forwardly from the front face i5 of the meter A, and to be secured to the meter by any suitable means (not shown). Releasably mounted Within the shell 2U as by studs 2l and wing nuts 22 are spaced L-shaped frame members 23, including upright portions 24 and horizontal portions 25 extending from the lower ends of the upright portions and terminating in downturned end portions 26 abutting the front face I5' of the meter A. Disposed in spaced parallel relation above the horizontal portions 25 are guide rods 21 including screw threaded end portions 28 secured to the upright portions 24 as by nuts 29. Disposed between the guide rods 2l is a box-like carriage 3@ including opposite side lugs El slidable on the rods 21. Threaded on the guide rods 2l at their distal ends are nuts 32 and encircling the guide rods between the lugs 3i and the nuts 32 are expansion coil springs 33 urging the carriage toward a retracted position. Means may be provided for limiting retraction of the carriage, and in the example shown, each guide rod is provided with an adjustable stop nut 3d for this purpose. The box-like carriage 3U at its forward end is formed with an opening 35 bounded by marginal side flanges 35 and a top Flange 3l depending from the free edge 38 of a cover 3i? pivoted at liil. This carriage 30 constitutes a magazine for storing a supply of cards C in pack formation. Means is provided for urging the pack of cards C toward the forward end of the carriage and in the example shown comprises leaf springs il attached to the inside of the carriage and pressing against a follower plate LW. lThe bottom v/all 43 of the carriage terminates short of the forward end thereof to provide a space dll just suflicient to pass the foremost card C 'of the pack. Altho disposed over the space 44, the foremost card, because of its lateral contact with the flanges 36, 3l, under the influence of the springs 4l, will not tend to drop thru the space 144. Disposed in substantial as shown by broken lines in Figure 1.

alignment beneath the space 44, upon retraction of the carriage 30, is a card chute carried by and extending downwardly thru the shell 20.

Secured in the lower portion of the shell 2U, as by attachment to the chute 45, is a housing enclosing a roller 5| urged, as by a suitable spring 52, to wind thereon an inked sheet 53 secured at one end margin to the roller. Formed in the housing 50 is a slot 54 thru which the inked sheets '53 extends. Clamped to the inked sheet 53, at its opposite end margin, is a sheet metal binding strip 55, substantially U-shaped in cross section and longitudinally slidable between spaced retainer strips 5B secured as by rivets 51 at one end margin of a resiliently stretchable sheet rubber appendage 58. This appendage 5B at its opposite end margin is provided with a hem 58 encircling a rod 68.

Floating on the rod 60 at its opposite end portions are grooved wheels 6| adapted to follow spaced guide rails 62 fixedly carried by the frame members 23. These guide rails 82 include upright portions 63 in adjacent spaced relation to the front face |`5 of the meter A and horizontal portions 64 adjacent the upper end of the shell 20.

Rotatably mounted in bearings 'I8 carried by the frame is a rock shaft provided with a square end '|2 for connection with a crank 13 removably insertible thru an opening 14 in the e shell. Extending between the rock shait 'H and the rod 60 are spaced arms 75 including telescopically slidable sections, the solid inner sections 15 being fixed to the rock shaft and the outer sleeve sections 11 being fixed to the rod 60. Disposed within the outer sleeve sections 11 are expansion coil springs I8 urging the arms 15 to lengthen and thereby tending to retain the grooved wheels 6| in engagement with the rails 62.

Fixed on the rock shaft l'I is a lever 88 for moving the carriage 38 into printing relation to the type bar I6 and the pointers upon turning of the rock shaft in a counter-clockwise direction to the-position shown in Figure 2. Fastened on the rod 68 are resilient ngers 8| adapted to ride over the foremost card C during elevation of the rod 60 and to engage the upper edge of the foremost card C during lowering of the rod from its elevated position. The anges 36, 31 are interrupted along the path of travel of the fingers 8| so as to not interfere with their movement.

In the operation of the device, the consumer or other authorized person connects the crank 13 to the shaft 1| Aand turns the same in a counter-clockwise direction. Upon partial advancement of the crank, the inked sheet 53 will be fully unrolled and disposed between the foremost card C and the front face I5 of the meter, Further movement of the crank beyond its partially advanced position will stretch the resilient appendage 58 and thereby hold the inked sheet taut. Simultaneously, the lever will move the carriage into printing position as shown in Figure 2. Thus the meter identiiication number carried by the bar |6 and the position of the pointers Il will be recorded on the foremost card C. These cards C may include an appropriately designated area for receiving the identication number 86 and dial areas 8'! for receiving index marks 88 of the pointers il. The consumer or other authorized person now turns the crank 13 in a clockwise direction. Upon partial retraction of the crank, the carriage will, under the influence of the springs 33, move from its printing position into the retracted position shown in Figure 1. In this position, the space 44 substantially aligns with the card chute 45, and the resilient iingers 8| engage the upper edge of the foremost card C. Further movement of the crank beyond its partially retracted position will eject the foremost card from the device thru the card chute 45. Simultaneously, the inked sheet will, under the infiuence of the roller spring 52, be wound on the roller 5| within the housing 58 and the transverse rib formed by the strips 55, 56 at the juncture of the inked sheet 53 and the appendage 58 will be disposed in sealing relation to the housing slot 54, whereby to retain the inked sheet in a fresh condition for the relatively long interval of time during which the device may be idle.

Ordinarily a record of the meter reading is taken every month and once a year the device is serviced. By removing the shell 20 and wing nuts 22, the frame 23 may be lifted out and the card supply replenished by opening the cover 39. Should replacement of the inked sheet 53 be necessary, the sheet may be separated from the appendage 58 by longitudinally sliding the strip 55 from the retainer strips 56.

Various changes may be made in the form o1' invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. Mechanism for printing type characters on successive cards of a pack comprising means supporting the pack for movement toward and away from the type, an inked sheet movable into and out of cooperative relation to the type, control means including an operating member having a lost motion connection to the pack supporting means and a resilient connection to the sheet, said control means being partially advancible to dispose the inked sheet in cooperative relation to the type and further advancible to move said pack supporting means through said lost motion connection toward the type to dispose the foremost card of the pack in printing relation to the type, said control means being partially retractible to move the pack away from the type and further retractible to remove the foremost card from the pack.

2. Mechanism for printing type characters on successive cards of a pack comprising means supporting the pack for movement toward and away from the type, an inked sheet movable into and out of cooperative relation to the type, means urging the pack away from the type, means urging the inking means out of cooper` ative relation to the type, control means including an operating member having a lost motion connection to the pack supporting means and a resilient connection to the sheet, said control means being partially advancible to dispose said inked sheet in cooperative relation to the type and further advancible to move the pack supporting means through said lost motion connection toward the type to dispose the foremost card of the pack in printing relation to the type, and means operable upon retraction of 'the control means to remove the foremost card from the pack.

3. Mechanism for printing type characters on successive cards of a pack comprising means supporting the pack for movement toward and away from the type, an inked sheet secured at one end and provided at its other end with a resiliently stretcliable appendage, and control means having a lost motion connection to the pack supporting means and connected to said appendage, said control means being partially advancible to draw said appendage and thereby urge the sheet into a fully extended position between the type and the foremost card of the pack, said control means being movable beyond the partially advanced position to move the pack through said lost motion connection toward the type and to stretch said appendage whereby to hold the sheet in a taut position.

4. Mechanism for printing type characters on successive cards of a pack comprising means supporting the pack for movement toward and away from the type, a roller, an inked sheet secured at one end to the roller and provided at its other end with a resiliently stretchable appendage and a transverse bead, a housing for the roller including a slot thru which the sheet extends, means urging the roller to wind the sheet thereon, said bead, upon winding of said sheet on the roller, being seated in the slot of said housing, and control means partially advancible to draw said appendage and thereby urge the sheet into a fully extended position between the type and the foremost card of the pack, said control means being movable beyond the partially advanced position to move the pack toward the type and to stretch said appendage whereby to hold the sheet in a taut position during the printing operation.

5. Mechanism for recording, on successive cards of a pack, the periodical readings of a meter including type for printing indicia such as meter identification numerals and consumption indexes, said type projecting from the face of the meter, said mechanism comprising a frame to be disposed adjacent the meter face, a carriage for holding the pack, spring means secured to the carriage and urging the pack toward the forward end of the carriage, means mounting the carriage in the frame for movement toward and away from a printing position, and control means operatively connected to the carriage and advancible to feed the carriage toward the printing position and retractible to remove the foremost card of the pack.

6. Mechanism for recording, on successive cards of a pack, the periodical readings of a meter including type for printing indicia such as meter identification numerals and consumption indexes, said type projecting from the face of the meter, said mechanism comprising a frame to be disposed adjacent the meter face, a carriage for holding the pack, means urging the pack toward the forward end of the carriage, said carriage at its forward end being provided with a discharge slot of a width substantially equal to the thickness of a card, said slot for the passage of the foremost card of the pack, means mounting the carriage in the frame for movement toward and away from a printing position, said frame being provided with a card passageway substantially aligning with said discharge slot upon movement of said carriage away from the printing position, means for ejecting the foremost card of the pack and control means advancible to feed the carriage toward the printing position and partially retractible to move said carriage away from the printing position whereby to bring said card discharge slot and said card passageway into substantial alignment, said control means being connected to said card ejecting means and movable beyond said partially retracted position to operate said card ejecting means whereby to remove the foremost card of the pack from the carriage thru said discharge slot and passageway.

7. Mechanism for recording, on successive cards of a pack, the periodical readings of a meter including type for printing indicia such as meter identification numerals and consumption indexes, said type projecting from the face of the meter, said mechanism comprising a frame to be disposed adjacent the meter face, a carriage for holding the pack, means urging the pack toward the forward end of the carriage, means mounting the carriage in the frame for movement toward and away from a printing position. means urging the carriage away from the printing position, a guideway adjacent the forward end of the carriage, a rod advancible and retractible along the guideway, an inked sheet resiliently secured to the rod and movable into and out of inking relation to the type, upon advancement and retraction of the rod, a resilient linger carried by the rod, said finger riding over the foremost card of the pack upon advancement of the rod and engaging the cardr upon retraction of the rod, a rock shaft mounted in the frame, a crank fixed thereon, an arm including telescopic sections, one xed on the rock shaft and the other secured to the rod, said arm upon rocking of the shaft moving the rod along the guideway, and a cam on the rock shaft and arranged to move the carriage toward the printing position subsequent to movement of the sheet into inking relation to the type.

CHESTER M. CARLTON. 

